RubberDucks manager Greg DiCenzo is more than just a baseball guy.
DiCenzo grew up in Massachusetts and was a standout in baseball, soccer and basketball at Duxbury High School. He played baseball, soccer and football at St. Lawrence University in New York.
So, it came as no surprise when DiCenzo made an ice hockey reference when describing this year's RubberDucks , who conclude the regular season this weekend at Canal Park against the Hartford Yard Goats.
"When the puck drops, these guys are ready to fight and they are ready to compete for nine full innings," DiCenzo said in August. "It has been fun to watch. ... Every night is another opportunity for us to learn and develop."
Playoff baseball returns to Akron with the RubberDucks at Canal Park
The Ducks are preparing for another appearance in the Eastern League playoffs, which starts Tuesday night at home against the Erie SeaWolves in a three-game first-round series between the two best Southwest Division teams.
Akron entered Saturday with a 80-56 record. The Ducks are 33-25 in one-run games, have 27 wins with the go-ahead run scoring in eighth inning or later, 24 wins in their last at-bat and 11 walk-off wins at Canal Park. Six of the 11 walk-off wins have occurred on a Sunday.
"You'd like to have zero walk-off wins and all [11] of those wins in your pocket earlier in the game than maybe your last at-bat," said DiCenzo, who was the baseball coach at Holy Cross from 2008-2019. "That would make life a little bit easier for us in the dugout, but it has been great for the guys. They are playing a ton of close games, a ton of one-run games. They are learning how to win games close late and they are learning how to lose games late as well.
"From a developmental standpoint and from a learning standpoint here, learning opportunities that present themselves every night here with the RubberDucks, it is only going to bode well for our guys when they get to Cleveland and they get to Progressive Field."
Dramatic wins propel Akron RubberDucks to Eastern League playoffs
The RubberDucks clinched a playoff spot with a 3-2 comeback win at home over the Bowie Baysox on Aug. 31. C.J. Kayfus singled in Tyresse Turner in the third, Kody Huff scored on a single by Jorge Burgos and Joe Lampe scored on an error in the eighth. Reliever Zane Morehouse got the win and Bradley Hanner recorded the save.
Here is a quick breakdown of the 11 walk-off wins:
- April 21: Ducks beat Erie SeaWolves 2-1 in ninth inning. Alexfri Planez scored on an error after Yordys Valdes grounded into a fielder’s choice.
- May 5: Ducks beat Richmond Flying Squirrels 2-1 in ninth inning. Petey Halpin’s RBI single scored Dayan Frias.
- May 14: Ducks beat Altoona Curve 2-1 in ninth inning. Aaron Bracho and Kody Huff walked, Joe Naranjo singled in pinch-runner Connor Kokx and Milan Tolentino singled in Huff.
- June 2: Ducks beat New Hampshire Fisher Cats 7-6 in ninth inning. Tolentino hit a solo home run, Kahlil Watson singled in Naranjo and Planez doubled in Watson.
- July 1: Ducks beat SeaWolves 4-3 in 12th inning. Halpin's sacrifice fly scored Frias.
- July 2: Ducks beat SeaWolves 7-6 in ninth inning. Halpin singled in Valdes.
- July 21: Ducks beat Richmond Flying Squirrels 2-1 in 10th inning. Tolentino singled in Frias.
- July 28: Ducks beat Bowie Baysox 3-2 in ninth inning. Tolentino doubled in Bracho and Frias singled in Joe Lampe.
- Aug. 6: Ducks beat Reading Phillies 3-2 in ninth inning. Micael Ramirez hit a two-run home run that also scored Guy Lipscomb.
- Aug. 11: Ducks beat Phillies 2-1 in ninth inning. Valdes hit a solo homer in eighth and Frias singled in Lipscomb in ninth.
- Aug. 24: Ducks beat Harrisburg Senators 4-3 in ninth inning. Frias tripled and scored on a single by Lipscomb.
Who are the Akron RubberDucks' top hitters and fielders?
Halpin was a key player for Akron, but was placed on the injured list on Aug. 26. Tolentino, Lampe, Planez, Valdes, Huff, Bracho, Watson, Frias and Kayfus are nine of the Ducks' top hitters.
Chase DeLauter contributed before being promoted to the Columbus Clippers.
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"It has been great being in Akron this year," Halpin said. "This entire coaching staff has been doing an awesome job keeping everyone involved and excited about games and excited about winning. I think the guys really lean on each other and pick each other up. Once you have an environment like that, it is pretty easy to come to the ballpark and compete.
"There are a bunch of guys that I have learned from, studs who are now out doing there thing on the big league team. It is really fun to watch. Daniel Schneemann is one of them. He is the best guy in the world. Seeing him compete up there and doing his job is awesome.
"... Steven Kwan has been a really good mentor to me. He kind of took me under his wing this spring. That was my first time going to big league camp [during spring training]. It was exciting, but a scary experience. He did a really good job of slowing me down when I needed to be slowed down. He was keeping my head clear. He is really good at doing things like that, and then on the field watching him go about his business and watching what he does is incredible."
Who are the Akron RubberDucks top pitchers?
Aaron Davenport and Tommy Mace have pitched well in Akron's starting rotation all year and Parker Messick and Austin Peterson have been solid. Ryan Webb and Doug Nikhazy were effective before being promoted to Columbus.
Akron's top relievers are Bradley Hanner, Jack Leftwich, Lenny Torres Jr., Davis Sharpe and Ross Carver. Andrew Walters was dominant before promotions to Columbus and Cleveland.
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"We have a bit of a different group than what we started with, as with every year," Davenport said. "From Low A through our big league club, people are going at it the right way. When guys get sent up here they have been ready to go and have been immediate impact guys. We have been playing good ball and it has been fun.
"... I have buddies in Columbus and on the big league club in Cleveland. It is fun to keep up with them. You see how everyone is doing. We are one org and we are all working towards the same goal — helping the big league club win a World Series. ... Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams are both in my draft class. I have known Bibee for quite some time, and same with all the guys in AAA. We have a pretty close org, which is a good thing."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Walk-off hits, solid pitching propel Akron RubberDucks into Eastern League playoffs
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